Big A HG

How can we get the most out of our entire lineup? I think this is an interesting question, because our depth...despite its youth...is at defense. Fienhage has been nothing short of great for how much ice time he has seen over the course of his year and a half with the Sioux team, and makes strides every game he plays. The team needs to play its best guys every game, and taking Fienhage out when Genoway comes back is a mistake, in my opinion. Fienhage, who is arguably our "worst" defenseman who plays on a regular basis (based on playing time and excluding the likes of Hill), is better than our worst forwards. Let's face it, we've had a few hiccups on defense and in net here and there, but we have had a lot of trouble scoring consistently. Many of our forwards are not producing like they need to to take this team up another notch. Teams like Denver and Wisconsin are getting scoring from all over, with consistent scoring by their top lines. We are not getting that. So, when Genoway comes back....do we take Fienhage out of the lineup again? Or can we take out an inconsistent forward, and move Genoway up to a forward position, therefore putting our best players on the ice. Fienhage has proven his worth, and taking him back out would not only be a detriment to this season, but future seasons as well. I know it's a controversial move, but Genoway has all the skills to be an exceptional forward. The move might be a change that makes sizeable results, like Miller going to defense last year. Imagine putting Genoway with Gregoire, Trupper, Kristo, or Malone? I'd add Vande Velde, but he's been pretty poor this year. We could then leave the defense to remain the way it is. We have Gleason, Marto, and Blood to move the puck up the ice when needed....one player for each D pairing. Picture this: Malone centering Genoway and Kristo with Blood and MacWilliam on defense as a premier lineup on the team. It's just a thought, so don't hate, and in no way am I trying to knock Genoway. I just think it fits best with what we need and how to keep the best players on the ice.

I was thinking more along the lines of BSU myself.

They're not really a UND green. Also, they have black/red gloves, so something tells me the green won't be a permanent fixture for the Canadian team.

I think the skill is definitely there, with great coaching to boot. We'll see if they can gain the chemistry and get all that skill to click in time to make a great tournament for USA. Here's to hopin'! This is the only time I find myself rooting for a person that partakes in team functions involving Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Denver.

I disagree. The Sioux played an All-Star team comprised of the VERY best college hockey players for their age, and those players that decided to play in Canada in their elite leagues. Good teams will make a team look bad at times, but I thought the effort was there, and it was a close game throughout. USA was by far the better team, but UND didn't give up and pushed USA a lot at times, had some great shifts, but ultimately fell short. It was all this, plus we didn't have two of our best offensive players, along with another guy who is nitty, gritty, and a team leader. We played pretty decent in my opinion. I agree on Kristo. I hope we have him for at least next year. He's a big piece to the puzzle and is really starting to figure out the collegiate game. The goalies played real well with the only softy (IMO) being the wrister that beat Dell high on his blocker side with the shallow angle. Eidsness' first goal would have beat pretty much anyone, and Dell's other goal was a redirect right in front of him that could have gone anywhere...it just happened to find a hole. I agree again...been saying this for awhile, but UND has only swept Merrimack and Michigan Tech. A very good team will get a sweep of at least one team that should have probably been a split. I think this team has played great in each fascet of the game at certain points, they just haven't put together a string of games where everything clicks. If the team makes the tournament, I wouldn't want to play them just for that reason. I hate worrying about next year, but things are looking good if it doesn't work out this year. Let's finish this season out before worrying though. Not a chance...

Is this how you live life? Do you give up on all your beliefs just because you don't like "not knowing"? Fight for what you believe in and what YOU think should happen, whether it's the BTHC, the Sioux nickname, your president, religion, what have you. Once you've given it your all, you can be satisfied knowing you tried. There were Sioux hockey teams that weren't given a chance, but they didn't give in just to resolve the issue. They fought til the end and changed history in their favor.

This team doesn't have the makeup to have a long and consistently great season. However, I think they have a great makeup for the playoffs. The team has shown great spurts in all aspects of the game, and if they can put together a four-game streak of all those things, they'll bring home #8. First, they have to make the tournament, and the second half of the season is going to be a tough one. They'll have to start winning, and consistently doing it. No weekends off.

That's a bold statement there AZ. I kindfully disagree. He'll be Duncan-esque. Very good in college, but doesn't have the body type to make it in the NHL. I hope he proves me wrong, but that's just how I see it.

Trupp Gregoire

Wow, that's a steal....

Your avatar? You mean the one I made for myself?

What did the Duncan home Hobey jersey go for? It was only $700ish as of the wee hours of this morning. I completely forgot the auction ended today after waking up....If it went for under $1100, I would have bid for sure and sold my Frozen Four Bina swift to make up for it.

Wow, I'm impressed with the extent of your vocabulary Goon

Hope and change brotha...

From what I understand, most of the referees (not the linesmen) are well-to-do and don't need the money. Many had "ins" to get their jobs.

His brand new "hockey club".

I immediately thought of Karl Goehring before reading your post as well. The guy has a lot of professional experience, albeit mostly AHL. I've talked to Karl a few times and he seems to like Grand Forks, and as of not that long ago I know he still had a home in Grand Forks despite playing in other cities. He's currently coaching with the Syracuse Crunch, but it might be a good fit to bring him back "home." He has a couple young kids and it might be nice to settle down in a place you know and [presumably] loves. GF is a tight-knit community and a great place to raise a family, plus he'd be able to continue to do what he loves.

I definitely see where you are coming from, but I believe Hak has a "ride the storm out" mentality. If we switch to that style of game now, that means there might be some chemistry lost between the players that are still playing and somewhat "re-learn" the current style later on. As long as we don't start getting swept, and at least manage a split here and there, we SHOULD be ok for the short-term. This team has to start sweeping teams that we're better than....like pretty much everyone other than the top few teams of our league. I know that's a lot to ask, but we don't seem to be playing above our capabilities ever, like many teams seem to do when they play us. It'd be nice to just go steamroll a few teams for a change. There's talent on the team to do so, but we never seem to put together a 120 minute weekend. Maybe some more intense off-season training...?

I had a decent sized version somewhere on an old computer, which I think got transferred to an external harddrive laying around here somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it up.

I don't know what you all are griping about. It was a pretty obvious "Skating past opponent who falls into the boards" major. Itquay ouryay itchinbay.

I think USA wins because of Kristo alone...it'll be a close game though. USA 4 (Kristo with 2) Sioux 3 (Trupper, Gregoire, and Malone)

He is a -5, worst on the team. But LaPoint is a beaten horse. Everyone knows he isn't the most skilled guy on the ice. He's not incompetent though. A guy who has been a dud all season and has been getting too much credit is Vande Velde. Senior? My ass...he plays like a freshman and has the second worst +/- on the team at -4. If he didn't win a decent percentage of faceoffs, the guy wouldn't be worth much. Where is the spark with this guy? If it's because he's hurt, don't play. If it's a mental thing, sit his ass. If it's a skill thing, I can understand...but we've seen how good he can be, but he's NEVER been consistent. The Sioux (without Chay) are being carried by the young guns...Kristo, Gregoire, Blood, MacWilliam, and Hextall. Trupper, Marto, and Malone have been rock solid also for the most part. There's a lot of time to get this thing figured out, but I hate playing Bubblicious come February/March.

OK, I got jipped with my Gregoire pick....he deserved one. Does that count?!

Why is Bitchy Badger in that pic? He won't be there...

He would also still be of junior status. It still erks me that this had to happen in the first place, but if he has learned a lot from it and has changed his life for the better, I'd welcome him back. This might create a little chaos with roster spots though.